Kayaking the longest river in your country has to be high on every kayakers list of achievements and the River Shannon has been on mine for a couple of years now. Not only is it the longest river in Ireland it is also the longest in the British Isles. For most people kayaking this mighty river is a leisurely trip, enjoying the sights and sounds that could take weeks to complete but I wanted to take a different approach. My plan was to kayak as fast as possible from start to finish and set the standard for the "Shannon Sprint".

The challenge- Complete a speed circumnavigation of Irelands biggest Island - Achill.

This is a challenge I have wanted to take on for a while. Its got it all when it comes to performance sea kayaking. Strong tidal streams, long exposed sections and a demanding distance for even the fittest paddler.